US20070237336A1 - Speech canceler-enhancer system for use in call-center applications - Google Patents
Speech canceler-enhancer system for use in call-center applications Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20070237336A1 US20070237336A1 US11/401,368 US40136806A US2007237336A1 US 20070237336 A1 US20070237336 A1 US 20070237336A1 US 40136806 A US40136806 A US 40136806A US 2007237336 A1 US2007237336 A1 US 2007237336A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- signal
- microphone
- headset
- processor
- noise
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
- 239000003623 enhancer Substances 0.000 title 1
- 230000003044 adaptive effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 43
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 22
- 230000009467 reduction Effects 0.000 claims description 14
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 claims description 11
- 230000005236 sound signal Effects 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000012545 processing Methods 0.000 description 7
- 238000001914 filtration Methods 0.000 description 4
- 230000006978 adaptation Effects 0.000 description 3
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 3
- 230000005540 biological transmission Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000005516 engineering process Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000006872 improvement Effects 0.000 description 3
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 3
- 0 CC1=CCC(**)CC1 Chemical compound CC1=CCC(**)CC1 0.000 description 1
- 238000013461 design Methods 0.000 description 1
- 235000019800 disodium phosphate Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000012423 maintenance Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000135 prohibitive effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000008439 repair process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000011144 upstream manufacturing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000001755 vocal effect Effects 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
- H04R1/00—Details of transducers, loudspeakers or microphones
- H04R1/10—Earpieces; Attachments therefor ; Earphones; Monophonic headphones
- H04R1/1083—Reduction of ambient noise
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
- H04R3/00—Circuits for transducers, loudspeakers or microphones
- H04R3/005—Circuits for transducers, loudspeakers or microphones for combining the signals of two or more microphones
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
- H04R2410/00—Microphones
- H04R2410/05—Noise reduction with a separate noise microphone
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
- H04R5/00—Stereophonic arrangements
- H04R5/033—Headphones for stereophonic communication
Definitions
- the present invention concerns the reduction of background noise picked up by a first microphone spoken into by a first person. More particularly, the present invention concerns reducing background noise in telephone conversations, where an agent is working in a noisy environment.
- Call centers where many agents are calling many persons simultaneously, are widely employed throughout several industries. For example, several stockbrokers in close proximity to each other call many stockholders simultaneously. Telemarketers and pollsters often sit in side-by-side cubicles and call households. Often dozens of emergency personnel sit side-by-side in a 911-call center and receive urgent requests for emergency services.
- a common problem in such call centers is that background noise can be distracting and cause miscommunications.
- the background noise is primarily due to the voices of the other agents in the call center who are simultaneously communicating on other unrelated telephone calls.
- sensitive information can sometimes be heard in the background conversations, such as in the case of the stockbrokers or 911-call center instances.
- Another source of background noise problems in such situations can be mechanical sounds emanating from nearby equipment, such as printers, photocopiers, automatic doors, elevators, and HVAC systems. Such sounds may also interfere with a conversation and lead to miscommunications, distractions and annoyances.
- agent A be a call-center agent of interest who is engaged in a telephone call with customer A.
- the call transpires between the agent A and the customer A via a headset on agent A, a wired connection to a private business exchange (PBX) 20 , a wired connection to a public switched telephone network (PSTN) 22 and a wired connection to a headset, handset or speakerphone of the customer A.
- PBX private business exchange
- PSTN public switched telephone network
- a noise-canceling headset 10 employed by an agent A in a call center is illustrated in FIG. 2 .
- the headset 10 includes a primary microphone 12 directed toward the mouth of agent A, wearing the headset 10 .
- a secondary microphone 14 is directed away from the mouth of agent A.
- the secondary microphone 14 is intended to pickup the extraneous noises EN in the environment surrounding the headset 10 , such as the conversations of other nearby agents B, C . . . N and equipment noises in the environment.
- the primary microphone 12 is intended to pickup the voice of agent A.
- the outputs of the primary and secondary microphones 12 and 14 are connected to a digital signal processor (DSP) 16 in the headset 10 .
- the DSP 16 analyzes the extraneous noise EN signals received from secondary microphone 14 and attempts to modify the voice signal received from the primary microphone 12 by removing the extraneous noise EN sound signals. This modification is accomplished by adaptive signal processing. Adaptive signal processing systems and methods to remove unwanted noise from a sound signal are known in the art and would be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art. See for example, Widrow and S. D. Stearns, Adaptive Signal Processing, Prentice-Hall, 1985.
- the modified voice signal 15 is output by the DSP 16 and sent to the private business exchange (PBX) 20 via a wired connection 18 .
- the modified voice signal 15 may also be sent to speakers 19 of the headset 10 for the benefit of agent A, wearing the headset 10 .
- the PBX 20 sends the modified voice signal to the public switched telephone network (PSTN) 22 for transmission to an outside party of the call, such as customer A.
- PSTN public switched telephone network
- Each of agents B, C . . . N would wear a similar noise-canceling headset 10 and be connected to PBX 20 and could hold conversations with other customers, as illustrated in FIG. 2 .
- the DSP 16 will introduce a level of distortion into the modified voice signal transmitted by the DSP 16 to the customer.
- the distortion is primary the result of the close proximity of the secondary microphone 14 to the wearer of the headset 10 .
- the voice of the wearer will, to some extent, enter into the secondary microphone 14 .
- the voice of the wearer is usually the most intense sound source in the proximity of the secondary microphone 14 , and the directional quality of the secondary microphone 14 is not perfect.
- the DSP 16 will receive a certain level of the voice of the wearer through the secondary microphone 14 and may have difficulty in accurately distinguishing the extraneous noise EN from the wearer's voice signal. As a result, the DSP 16 will modify the voice signal coming from the primary microphone 12 by removing the noise signal (which includes the extraneous noise EN and the voice signal), which will degrade the quality of the agent's voice, as perceived by the customer A.
- the DSP 16 of the headset 10 must be miniaturized to be conveniently located within the framework of the headset 10 . Therefore, the DSP 16 is typically of a custom design and has less processing power than a full-size processor, as used in common computers. Also, it is difficult, and typically prohibitively expensive, to upgrade the software of the DSP 16 or to replace the DSP 16 with an upgraded processor, as the technology improves over time.
- the power source 17 is typically a battery and must be recharged and periodically replaced. Also, the power source 17 , DSP 16 , and secondary microphone 14 add to the weight of the headset 10 , which adds to the discomfort of the wearer.
- Each headset 10 must include one or more secondary microphones 14 . Also each headset 10 must include the DSP 16 and the power source 17 . Therefore, the cost of the headset 10 is much higher than the cost of a simple headset without noise-cancellation circuitry, and the repair cost is likewise much higher. It is certainly feasible that the costs of high-quality noise-canceling headsets 10 would be several hundreds of dollars each. Therefore, for a call center (telemarketing, stock broker facility, 911-center etc.) employing perhaps one hundred agents, the expense and maintenance of such noise-canceling headsets could be very expensive, in the hundred thousand dollar range.
- a call center telemarketing, stock broker facility, 911-center etc.
- a system and method of operating a call-center having agents using headsets which are connected to a private business exchange (PBX).
- Noise cancellation for the several headsets occurs in a noise filter within the PBX, or in a noise filter within a separate device connected to the PBX.
- Noise cancellation for a particular agent's conversation is achieved by receiving the voice signals from neighboring agents' headsets and by using adaptive noise cancellation in the noise filter to cleanly remove the other agents' conversations from the particular agent's conversation.
- Microphones may also be placed at other noise sources, such as photocopiers and HVAC equipment, so that offending noises are accurately received at the noise filter and removed from the agents' conversations.
- FIG. 1 illustrates a call center with many agents in close proximity and additional equipment noise sources, in accordance with the background art
- FIG. 2 illustrates a noise-canceling headset in a call center, in accordance with the background art
- FIG. 3 illustrates a call center having a noise cancellation feature incorporated in a modified PBX, in accordance with the present invention.
- FIG. 4 illustrates the internal circuitry of the modified PBX to show the adaptive noise cancellation features of the present invention.
- FIG. 3 shows a call center noise cancellation system, in accordance with the present invention. Now, the differences between the system in accordance with the present invention and the system as described in connection with the background art of FIG. 1 will be discussed.
- a primary difference is that the PBX 20 of the background art has been replaced with a module connected to a conventional PBX 20 , or a module including a convention PBX 20 . Either situation shall be referred to as a modified PBX 20 ′.
- the modified PBX 20 ′ has internal circuitry and/or software performing noise cancellation, as will be more fully discussed in connection with FIG. 4 .
- a plurality of additional microphones 30 , 32 , 34 has been connected to the modified PBX 20 ′.
- the additional microphones 30 , 32 , 34 are placed immediately adjacent to noise sources in the call center, other than agents wearing headsets A, B . . . N. Such other noise sources could be HVAC equipment, a doorway to a noisy hall, a customer service desk which deals with walk-in customers, etc.
- a signal 41 from the microphone 40 of agent A enters into the modified PBX 20 ′.
- the signal 41 passes through several stages of adaptive noise cancellation.
- a signal 43 from agent B's microphone 42 passes through a first adaptive noise filter 50 .
- the first adaptive noise filter 50 processes signal 43 from agent B's microphone 42 and provides its output to a first signal combiner 60 , which adds the modified signal to the signal 41 of agent A's microphone 40 .
- a feedback loop 51 downstream of the first signal combiner 60 , is used by an adaptive filtering algorithm to update the coefficients of the first adaptive noise filter 50 such that the output of the first adaptive noise filter 50 best models Agent B's voice as detected by Agent A's microphone 40 .
- Such an adaptive noise filter is known in the art. See Widrow and S. D. Stearns, Adaptive Signal Processing, Prentice-Hall, 1985, which is incorporated herein by reference.
- a signal 45 from agent C's microphone 44 passes through a second adaptive noise filter 52 .
- the second adaptive noise filter 52 processes signal 45 from agent C's microphone 44 and provides its output to a second signal combiner 61 , which adds the modified signal to the signal 41 of agent A's microphone 40 .
- a feedback loop 53 downstream of the second signal combiner 61 , is used by an adaptive filtering algorithm to update the coefficients of the second adaptive noise filter 52 such that the output of the second adaptive noise filter 52 best models Agent C's voice as detected by Agent A's microphone 40 .
- a signal 47 from agent N's microphone 46 passes through a third adaptive noise filter 54 .
- the third adaptive noise filter 54 processes signal 47 from agent N's microphone 46 and provides its output to a third signal combiner 62 , which adds the modified signal to the signal 41 of agent A's microphone 40 .
- a feedback loop 55 downstream of the third signal combiner 62 , is used by an adaptive filtering algorithm to update the coefficients of the third adaptive noise filter 54 such that the output of the third adaptive noise filter 54 best models Agent N's voice as detected by Agent A's microphone 40 .
- the modified PBX 20 ′ may also include circuitry to compensate for other types of background noises besides conversations of agents B, C, N.
- microphones 30 , 32 , 34 may be placed immediately adjacent to other noise sources in the call center, such as HVAC equipment, a doorway to a noisy hall, a customer service desk which deals with walk-in customers, etc.
- a signal 31 from noise A's microphone 30 passes through a fourth adaptive noise filter 70 .
- the fourth adaptive noise filter 70 processes signal 31 from noise A's microphone 30 and provides its output to a fourth signal combiner 63 , which adds the modified signal to the signal 41 of agent A's microphone 40 .
- a feedback loop 71 downstream of the fourth signal combiner 63 , controls the adaptation of the fourth adaptive noise filter 70 .
- a signal 33 from noise B's microphone 32 passes through a fifth adaptive noise filter 72 .
- the fifth adaptive noise filter 72 processes signal 33 from noise B's microphone 32 and provides its output to a fifth signal combiner 64 , which adds the modified signal to the signal 41 of agent A's microphone 40 .
- a feedback loop 73 downstream of the fifth signal combiner 64 , controls the adaptation of the fifth adaptive noise filter 72 .
- a signal 35 from noise N's microphone 34 passes through a sixth adaptive noise filter 74 .
- the sixth adaptive noise filter 74 processes signal 35 from noise N's microphone 34 and provides its output to a sixth signal combiner 65 , which adds the modified signal to the signal 41 of agent A's microphone 40 .
- a feedback loop 75 downstream of the sixth signal combiner 65 , controls the adaptation of the sixth adaptive noise filter 74 .
- FIG. 4 illustrates the noise cancellation circuitry for the signal 41 of agent A's microphone 40
- the modified PBX 20 ′ includes similar circuitry or software for the microphone signals 43 , 45 and 47 of agents B, C . . . N.
- the signal 43 from the microphone 42 of agent B would likewise be processed through several signal combiners to add noise compensating signals based on the signals 41 , 45 and 47 of agents A, C and N, and to add compensating signals based on signals 31 , 33 and 35 of noise sources A, B and N.
- the system of the present invention offers numerous advantages over the noise-canceling headsets of the background art, as discussed in combination with FIG. 2 .
- each headset no longer requires the noise-canceling equipment, such as the DSP 16 , the power source 17 and the secondary microphone 14 . This greatly reduces the costs of the headsets and the weight of the headsets.
- the agents A, B, C . . . N can use standard headsets, which are more comfortable.
- the system of the present invention can more accurately reduce background noise, as compared to the background art.
- the system of the present invention receives extremely accurate signals representing the unwanted noise. It accomplishes this by having the microphones, sensing the background noise for a particular agent, positioned immediately at the sources of the background noise. For example, in the headset of a neighboring agent and facing to the neighboring agent's mouth, or attached to a ceiling panel beside of a rattling HVAC vent. Therefore, the signal representation of the unwanted noise is very clear and accurate.
- the signal representation of the unwanted noise will have very little, or no, signal component of the particular agent's voice included therein.
- the background noise is no longer picked up by a microphone (e.g. secondary microphone 14 of FIG. 2 ) attached to the particular agent's headset, where it would also pickup the agent's voice in combination with the background noise.
- the noise-sensing microphones are greatly distanced from the particular agent's headset, and will receive not much, if any, of the particular agent's telephone conversation. Therefore, the particular agent's telephone conversation will not be treated as background noise, or will be so treated to a much lesser extent, in the noise compensation circuitry of the present invention. This results in less distortion to the particular agent's voice, and an ability to have a greater degree of noise cancellation, e.g. well above a 6 dB reduction in background noise.
- Another benefit of the system of the present invention is that the noise reduction for the entire system can be handled by a single processor in the modified PBX 20 ′, instead of many miniaturized DSPs 16 within many headsets 10 .
- By having the noise reduction achieved within a rather large and accessible modified PBX 20 ′ it is also possible to easily update the noise reduction software and exchange the processor for updated processor versions, as technology progresses over time. This was not easy or practical in the headsets 10 of the background art, as no port was available on the headset to update the software, and exchanging the DSP 16 was cost prohibitive.
- the additional microphones 30 , 32 , 34 are optional to the present invention.
- background equipment noise is not a problem in the call center.
- FIG. 3 illustrates the modified PBX 20 ′ as being in one box
- the modified PBX 20 ′ may occupy more than one physical cabinet.
- the noise reduction filtering could occur in a module, which is physically separate from and electrically connected upstream or downstream to a conventional PBX 20 .
- FIG. 4 illustrates circuitry, it should be understood that such a layout is figurative to assist in the explanation and understanding of the functioning of the invention.
- the functionality of such circuitry could be accomplished in software through signal processing techniques employed in one or more processors. Also, the adaptive noise cancellation need not occur in stages, as illustrated.
- FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate wired connections between the microphones and the modified PBX 20 ′, it should be appreciated that such connections could be wireless connections, such as 900 MHz or 2.4 GHz signals or even infra red (IR) signals.
- IR infra red
- headset has been used in this specification. This term encompasses all devices handled, activated or worn by a user to assist in the transmission of verbal communications to another person or persons, such as handsets, earbuds or other such common devices which hook over the ear of the user and have a short arm extending toward the user's mouth to support a microphone or have a microphone located on a flexible cable which passes near the user's mouth, as the cable connects to a telephone or transmission device worn on the user's belt or carried in the user's pocket.
Abstract
Description
- 1. Field of the Invention
- The present invention concerns the reduction of background noise picked up by a first microphone spoken into by a first person. More particularly, the present invention concerns reducing background noise in telephone conversations, where an agent is working in a noisy environment.
- 2. Description of the Related Art
- Call centers, where many agents are calling many persons simultaneously, are widely employed throughout several industries. For example, several stockbrokers in close proximity to each other call many stockholders simultaneously. Telemarketers and pollsters often sit in side-by-side cubicles and call households. Often dozens of emergency personnel sit side-by-side in a 911-call center and receive urgent requests for emergency services.
- A common problem in such call centers is that background noise can be distracting and cause miscommunications. The background noise is primarily due to the voices of the other agents in the call center who are simultaneously communicating on other unrelated telephone calls. Moreover, sensitive information can sometimes be heard in the background conversations, such as in the case of the stockbrokers or 911-call center instances.
- Another source of background noise problems in such situations can be mechanical sounds emanating from nearby equipment, such as printers, photocopiers, automatic doors, elevators, and HVAC systems. Such sounds may also interfere with a conversation and lead to miscommunications, distractions and annoyances.
- As an example with reference to
FIG. 1 , let agent A be a call-center agent of interest who is engaged in a telephone call with customer A. The call transpires between the agent A and the customer A via a headset on agent A, a wired connection to a private business exchange (PBX) 20, a wired connection to a public switched telephone network (PSTN) 22 and a wired connection to a headset, handset or speakerphone of the customer A. - Speech from other agents B . . . N, near agent A, may arrive at agent A's microphone and be transmitted to customer A. This extraneous speech is not related to the conversation occurring between agent A and customer A and degrades the quality of the conversation occurring between agent A and customer A. Likewise, if a sheet-feeding photocopier 2 or rattling heating vent 4 is close to agent A, those extraneous sounds may also enter into agent A's microphone and be an annoyance to the conversation, as perceived by customer A.
- One attempt to address these problems in the background art has been the employment of noise-canceling headsets in a call center. A noise-canceling
headset 10 employed by an agent A in a call center, according to the background art, is illustrated inFIG. 2 . Theheadset 10 includes aprimary microphone 12 directed toward the mouth of agent A, wearing theheadset 10. Asecondary microphone 14 is directed away from the mouth of agent A. Thesecondary microphone 14 is intended to pickup the extraneous noises EN in the environment surrounding theheadset 10, such as the conversations of other nearby agents B, C . . . N and equipment noises in the environment. Theprimary microphone 12 is intended to pickup the voice of agent A. - The outputs of the primary and
secondary microphones headset 10. TheDSP 16 analyzes the extraneous noise EN signals received fromsecondary microphone 14 and attempts to modify the voice signal received from theprimary microphone 12 by removing the extraneous noise EN sound signals. This modification is accomplished by adaptive signal processing. Adaptive signal processing systems and methods to remove unwanted noise from a sound signal are known in the art and would be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art. See for example, Widrow and S. D. Stearns, Adaptive Signal Processing, Prentice-Hall, 1985. - The modified
voice signal 15 is output by the DSP 16 and sent to the private business exchange (PBX) 20 via awired connection 18. The modifiedvoice signal 15 may also be sent tospeakers 19 of theheadset 10 for the benefit of agent A, wearing theheadset 10. The PBX 20 sends the modified voice signal to the public switched telephone network (PSTN) 22 for transmission to an outside party of the call, such as customer A. Each of agents B, C . . . N would wear a similar noise-cancelingheadset 10 and be connected toPBX 20 and could hold conversations with other customers, as illustrated inFIG. 2 . - The solution in accordance with the background art has enjoyed limited success. It is believed that such a secondary microphone and DSP system provides a reduction of the extraneous noise EN on the order of about 6 dB. A 6 dB reduction of the extraneous noise EN is certainly an improvement over the typical headsets, without noise cancellation capability.
- However, the Applicant has appreciated several drawbacks to the solution in accordance with the background art. First, a 6 dB reduction in noise is not dramatic or particularly significant. While it is an improvement, the customer may still overhear other conversations in the call center, and be distracted and annoyed by other background noises, which can still be quite loud, even after a 6 dB reduction.
- Second, the DSP 16 will introduce a level of distortion into the modified voice signal transmitted by the
DSP 16 to the customer. The distortion is primary the result of the close proximity of thesecondary microphone 14 to the wearer of theheadset 10. In other words, even through thesecondary microphone 14 is directed away from the mouth of the wearer of theheadset 10, the voice of the wearer will, to some extent, enter into thesecondary microphone 14. After all, the voice of the wearer is usually the most intense sound source in the proximity of thesecondary microphone 14, and the directional quality of thesecondary microphone 14 is not perfect. - Therefore, the DSP 16 will receive a certain level of the voice of the wearer through the
secondary microphone 14 and may have difficulty in accurately distinguishing the extraneous noise EN from the wearer's voice signal. As a result, the DSP 16 will modify the voice signal coming from theprimary microphone 12 by removing the noise signal (which includes the extraneous noise EN and the voice signal), which will degrade the quality of the agent's voice, as perceived by the customer A. - Another drawback is that the
DSP 16 of theheadset 10 must be miniaturized to be conveniently located within the framework of theheadset 10. Therefore, the DSP 16 is typically of a custom design and has less processing power than a full-size processor, as used in common computers. Also, it is difficult, and typically prohibitively expensive, to upgrade the software of the DSP 16 or to replace the DSP 16 with an upgraded processor, as the technology improves over time. - Another drawback is that a
power source 17 is required by the DSP 16. Thepower source 17 is typically a battery and must be recharged and periodically replaced. Also, thepower source 17, DSP 16, andsecondary microphone 14 add to the weight of theheadset 10, which adds to the discomfort of the wearer. - Another drawback is the cost and complexity of the
headset 10. Eachheadset 10 must include one or moresecondary microphones 14. Also eachheadset 10 must include the DSP 16 and thepower source 17. Therefore, the cost of theheadset 10 is much higher than the cost of a simple headset without noise-cancellation circuitry, and the repair cost is likewise much higher. It is certainly feasible that the costs of high-quality noise-cancelingheadsets 10 would be several hundreds of dollars each. Therefore, for a call center (telemarketing, stock broker facility, 911-center etc.) employing perhaps one hundred agents, the expense and maintenance of such noise-canceling headsets could be very expensive, in the hundred thousand dollar range. - It is an object of the present invention to address one or more of the drawbacks associated with the background art.
- It is an object of the present invention to improve the cancellation of background noise, as perceived by a person speaking to another person, employing a system and method in accordance with the present invention.
- It is an object of the present invention to improve the integrity and quality of the transmitted voice signal, even through noise cancellation algorithms are being employed to reduce background noise.
- It is an object of the present invention to reduce the weight, complexity, and cost of the headsets employed in a call-center, while improving the overall noise-cancellation ability of the headsets, as compared to the background art.
- It is an object of the present invention to provide a noise-canceling headset wherein the processor used for signal processing can be easily and inexpensively upgraded by software updates and processor exchange, as technology improves in the future.
- These and other objects are accomplished by a system and method of operating a call-center having agents using headsets, which are connected to a private business exchange (PBX). Noise cancellation for the several headsets occurs in a noise filter within the PBX, or in a noise filter within a separate device connected to the PBX. Noise cancellation for a particular agent's conversation is achieved by receiving the voice signals from neighboring agents' headsets and by using adaptive noise cancellation in the noise filter to cleanly remove the other agents' conversations from the particular agent's conversation. Microphones may also be placed at other noise sources, such as photocopiers and HVAC equipment, so that offending noises are accurately received at the noise filter and removed from the agents' conversations.
- Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.
- The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus, are not limits of the present invention, and wherein:
-
FIG. 1 illustrates a call center with many agents in close proximity and additional equipment noise sources, in accordance with the background art; -
FIG. 2 illustrates a noise-canceling headset in a call center, in accordance with the background art; -
FIG. 3 illustrates a call center having a noise cancellation feature incorporated in a modified PBX, in accordance with the present invention; and -
FIG. 4 illustrates the internal circuitry of the modified PBX to show the adaptive noise cancellation features of the present invention. -
FIG. 3 shows a call center noise cancellation system, in accordance with the present invention. Now, the differences between the system in accordance with the present invention and the system as described in connection with the background art ofFIG. 1 will be discussed. - A primary difference is that the
PBX 20 of the background art has been replaced with a module connected to aconventional PBX 20, or a module including aconvention PBX 20. Either situation shall be referred to as a modifiedPBX 20′. The modifiedPBX 20′ has internal circuitry and/or software performing noise cancellation, as will be more fully discussed in connection withFIG. 4 . Also, a plurality ofadditional microphones PBX 20′. Theadditional microphones - As illustrated in
FIG. 4 , a signal 41 from themicrophone 40 of agent A enters into the modifiedPBX 20′. Inside the modifiedPBX 20′, the signal 41 passes through several stages of adaptive noise cancellation. For example, asignal 43 from agent B'smicrophone 42 passes through a firstadaptive noise filter 50. The firstadaptive noise filter 50 processes signal 43 from agent B'smicrophone 42 and provides its output to afirst signal combiner 60, which adds the modified signal to the signal 41 of agent A'smicrophone 40. Afeedback loop 51, downstream of thefirst signal combiner 60, is used by an adaptive filtering algorithm to update the coefficients of the firstadaptive noise filter 50 such that the output of the firstadaptive noise filter 50 best models Agent B's voice as detected by Agent A'smicrophone 40. Such an adaptive noise filter is known in the art. See Widrow and S. D. Stearns, Adaptive Signal Processing, Prentice-Hall, 1985, which is incorporated herein by reference. - A
signal 45 from agent C'smicrophone 44 passes through a secondadaptive noise filter 52. The secondadaptive noise filter 52 processes signal 45 from agent C'smicrophone 44 and provides its output to asecond signal combiner 61, which adds the modified signal to the signal 41 of agent A'smicrophone 40. Afeedback loop 53, downstream of thesecond signal combiner 61, is used by an adaptive filtering algorithm to update the coefficients of the secondadaptive noise filter 52 such that the output of the secondadaptive noise filter 52 best models Agent C's voice as detected by Agent A'smicrophone 40. - A
signal 47 from agent N'smicrophone 46 passes through a thirdadaptive noise filter 54. The thirdadaptive noise filter 54 processes signal 47 from agent N'smicrophone 46 and provides its output to athird signal combiner 62, which adds the modified signal to the signal 41 of agent A'smicrophone 40. Afeedback loop 55, downstream of thethird signal combiner 62, is used by an adaptive filtering algorithm to update the coefficients of the thirdadaptive noise filter 54 such that the output of the thirdadaptive noise filter 54 best models Agent N's voice as detected by Agent A'smicrophone 40. - The modified
PBX 20′ may also include circuitry to compensate for other types of background noises besides conversations of agents B, C, N. For example,microphones - A
signal 31 from noise A'smicrophone 30 passes through a fourthadaptive noise filter 70. The fourthadaptive noise filter 70 processes signal 31 from noise A'smicrophone 30 and provides its output to afourth signal combiner 63, which adds the modified signal to the signal 41 of agent A'smicrophone 40. A feedback loop 71, downstream of thefourth signal combiner 63, controls the adaptation of the fourthadaptive noise filter 70. - A
signal 33 from noise B'smicrophone 32 passes through a fifthadaptive noise filter 72. The fifthadaptive noise filter 72 processes signal 33 from noise B'smicrophone 32 and provides its output to afifth signal combiner 64, which adds the modified signal to the signal 41 of agent A'smicrophone 40. Afeedback loop 73, downstream of thefifth signal combiner 64, controls the adaptation of the fifthadaptive noise filter 72. - A
signal 35 from noise N'smicrophone 34 passes through a sixthadaptive noise filter 74. The sixthadaptive noise filter 74 processes signal 35 from noise N'smicrophone 34 and provides its output to asixth signal combiner 65, which adds the modified signal to the signal 41 of agent A'smicrophone 40. Afeedback loop 75, downstream of thesixth signal combiner 65, controls the adaptation of the sixthadaptive noise filter 74. - Although
FIG. 4 illustrates the noise cancellation circuitry for the signal 41 of agent A'smicrophone 40, it should be appreciated that the modifiedPBX 20′ includes similar circuitry or software for the microphone signals 43, 45 and 47 of agents B, C . . . N. In other words, thesignal 43 from themicrophone 42 of agent B would likewise be processed through several signal combiners to add noise compensating signals based on thesignals signals - The system of the present invention offers numerous advantages over the noise-canceling headsets of the background art, as discussed in combination with
FIG. 2 . First, each headset no longer requires the noise-canceling equipment, such as theDSP 16, thepower source 17 and thesecondary microphone 14. This greatly reduces the costs of the headsets and the weight of the headsets. Now, the agents A, B, C . . . N can use standard headsets, which are more comfortable. - The system of the present invention can more accurately reduce background noise, as compared to the background art. The system of the present invention receives extremely accurate signals representing the unwanted noise. It accomplishes this by having the microphones, sensing the background noise for a particular agent, positioned immediately at the sources of the background noise. For example, in the headset of a neighboring agent and facing to the neighboring agent's mouth, or attached to a ceiling panel beside of a rattling HVAC vent. Therefore, the signal representation of the unwanted noise is very clear and accurate.
- Also, the signal representation of the unwanted noise will have very little, or no, signal component of the particular agent's voice included therein. In other words, the background noise is no longer picked up by a microphone (e.g.
secondary microphone 14 ofFIG. 2 ) attached to the particular agent's headset, where it would also pickup the agent's voice in combination with the background noise. Now, the noise-sensing microphones are greatly distanced from the particular agent's headset, and will receive not much, if any, of the particular agent's telephone conversation. Therefore, the particular agent's telephone conversation will not be treated as background noise, or will be so treated to a much lesser extent, in the noise compensation circuitry of the present invention. This results in less distortion to the particular agent's voice, and an ability to have a greater degree of noise cancellation, e.g. well above a 6 dB reduction in background noise. - Another benefit of the system of the present invention is that the noise reduction for the entire system can be handled by a single processor in the modified
PBX 20′, instead of manyminiaturized DSPs 16 withinmany headsets 10. This presents not only a cost savings, but the processor of the modifiedPBX 20′ and can a standard, full-sized processor, which is typically a cheaper yet a much more powerful processor. By having the noise reduction achieved within a rather large and accessible modifiedPBX 20′, it is also possible to easily update the noise reduction software and exchange the processor for updated processor versions, as technology progresses over time. This was not easy or practical in theheadsets 10 of the background art, as no port was available on the headset to update the software, and exchanging theDSP 16 was cost prohibitive. - The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are to be included within the scope of the following claims.
- For example, the
additional microphones - Although
FIG. 3 illustrates the modifiedPBX 20′ as being in one box, the modifiedPBX 20′ may occupy more than one physical cabinet. In other words, the noise reduction filtering could occur in a module, which is physically separate from and electrically connected upstream or downstream to aconventional PBX 20. - Although
FIG. 4 illustrates circuitry, it should be understood that such a layout is figurative to assist in the explanation and understanding of the functioning of the invention. The functionality of such circuitry could be accomplished in software through signal processing techniques employed in one or more processors. Also, the adaptive noise cancellation need not occur in stages, as illustrated. - Although
FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate wired connections between the microphones and the modifiedPBX 20′, it should be appreciated that such connections could be wireless connections, such as 900 MHz or 2.4 GHz signals or even infra red (IR) signals. - The term “headset” has been used in this specification. This term encompasses all devices handled, activated or worn by a user to assist in the transmission of verbal communications to another person or persons, such as handsets, earbuds or other such common devices which hook over the ear of the user and have a short arm extending toward the user's mouth to support a microphone or have a microphone located on a flexible cable which passes near the user's mouth, as the cable connects to a telephone or transmission device worn on the user's belt or carried in the user's pocket.
Claims (20)
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US11/401,368 US8848901B2 (en) | 2006-04-11 | 2006-04-11 | Speech canceler-enhancer system for use in call-center applications |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US11/401,368 US8848901B2 (en) | 2006-04-11 | 2006-04-11 | Speech canceler-enhancer system for use in call-center applications |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20070237336A1 true US20070237336A1 (en) | 2007-10-11 |
US8848901B2 US8848901B2 (en) | 2014-09-30 |
Family
ID=38575281
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US11/401,368 Active 2031-03-27 US8848901B2 (en) | 2006-04-11 | 2006-04-11 | Speech canceler-enhancer system for use in call-center applications |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US8848901B2 (en) |
Cited By (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20090274292A1 (en) * | 2008-05-05 | 2009-11-05 | Avaya Technology Llc | Assignment of Call-Center Agents to Incoming Calls |
EP2161717A1 (en) * | 2008-09-08 | 2010-03-10 | Deutsche Thomson OHG | Method for attenuating or suppressing a noise signal for a listener wearing a specific kind of headphone or earphone, the corresponding headphone or earphone, and a related loudspeaker system |
EP3291226A1 (en) | 2016-09-05 | 2018-03-07 | Unify Patente GmbH & Co. KG | A method of treating speech data, a device for handling telephone calls and a hearing device |
CN108028049A (en) * | 2015-09-14 | 2018-05-11 | 美商楼氏电子有限公司 | Microphone signal merges |
US10089067B1 (en) * | 2017-05-22 | 2018-10-02 | International Business Machines Corporation | Context based identification of non-relevant verbal communications |
USRE49462E1 (en) * | 2018-06-15 | 2023-03-14 | Cisco Technology, Inc. | Adaptive noise cancellation for multiple audio endpoints in a shared space |
Citations (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6418214B1 (en) * | 1996-09-25 | 2002-07-09 | British Telecommunications Public Limited Company | Network-based conference system |
US20020141601A1 (en) * | 2001-02-21 | 2002-10-03 | Finn Brian M. | DVE system with normalized selection |
US20030055535A1 (en) * | 2001-09-17 | 2003-03-20 | Hunter Engineering Company | Voice interface for vehicle wheel alignment system |
US6745014B1 (en) * | 1999-10-28 | 2004-06-01 | The United States Of America As Represented By The Administrator Of The National Aeronautics And Space Administration | Communications interface for wireless communications headset |
US20040196984A1 (en) * | 2002-07-22 | 2004-10-07 | Dame Stephen G. | Dynamic noise suppression voice communication device |
US20050060142A1 (en) * | 2003-09-12 | 2005-03-17 | Erik Visser | Separation of target acoustic signals in a multi-transducer arrangement |
US20050207567A1 (en) * | 2000-09-12 | 2005-09-22 | Forgent Networks, Inc. | Communications system and method utilizing centralized signal processing |
US20060034448A1 (en) * | 2000-10-27 | 2006-02-16 | Forgent Networks, Inc. | Distortion compensation in an acoustic echo canceler |
-
2006
- 2006-04-11 US US11/401,368 patent/US8848901B2/en active Active
Patent Citations (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6418214B1 (en) * | 1996-09-25 | 2002-07-09 | British Telecommunications Public Limited Company | Network-based conference system |
US6745014B1 (en) * | 1999-10-28 | 2004-06-01 | The United States Of America As Represented By The Administrator Of The National Aeronautics And Space Administration | Communications interface for wireless communications headset |
US20050207567A1 (en) * | 2000-09-12 | 2005-09-22 | Forgent Networks, Inc. | Communications system and method utilizing centralized signal processing |
US20060034448A1 (en) * | 2000-10-27 | 2006-02-16 | Forgent Networks, Inc. | Distortion compensation in an acoustic echo canceler |
US20020141601A1 (en) * | 2001-02-21 | 2002-10-03 | Finn Brian M. | DVE system with normalized selection |
US20030055535A1 (en) * | 2001-09-17 | 2003-03-20 | Hunter Engineering Company | Voice interface for vehicle wheel alignment system |
US20040196984A1 (en) * | 2002-07-22 | 2004-10-07 | Dame Stephen G. | Dynamic noise suppression voice communication device |
US20050060142A1 (en) * | 2003-09-12 | 2005-03-17 | Erik Visser | Separation of target acoustic signals in a multi-transducer arrangement |
US20080201138A1 (en) * | 2004-07-22 | 2008-08-21 | Softmax, Inc. | Headset for Separation of Speech Signals in a Noisy Environment |
Cited By (13)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20090274292A1 (en) * | 2008-05-05 | 2009-11-05 | Avaya Technology Llc | Assignment of Call-Center Agents to Incoming Calls |
GB2459909A (en) * | 2008-05-05 | 2009-11-11 | Avaya Inc | Selecting Call Centre agents based on background noise present in the vicinity of the agents. |
US8160234B2 (en) | 2008-05-05 | 2012-04-17 | Avaya Inc. | Assignment of call-center agents to incoming calls |
GB2459909B (en) * | 2008-05-05 | 2013-01-09 | Avaya Inc | Assignment of call-centre agents to incoming calls |
EP2161717A1 (en) * | 2008-09-08 | 2010-03-10 | Deutsche Thomson OHG | Method for attenuating or suppressing a noise signal for a listener wearing a specific kind of headphone or earphone, the corresponding headphone or earphone, and a related loudspeaker system |
CN108028049A (en) * | 2015-09-14 | 2018-05-11 | 美商楼氏电子有限公司 | Microphone signal merges |
EP3291226A1 (en) | 2016-09-05 | 2018-03-07 | Unify Patente GmbH & Co. KG | A method of treating speech data, a device for handling telephone calls and a hearing device |
US10089067B1 (en) * | 2017-05-22 | 2018-10-02 | International Business Machines Corporation | Context based identification of non-relevant verbal communications |
US20180336001A1 (en) * | 2017-05-22 | 2018-11-22 | International Business Machines Corporation | Context based identification of non-relevant verbal communications |
US10552118B2 (en) * | 2017-05-22 | 2020-02-04 | International Busiess Machines Corporation | Context based identification of non-relevant verbal communications |
US10558421B2 (en) * | 2017-05-22 | 2020-02-11 | International Business Machines Corporation | Context based identification of non-relevant verbal communications |
US10678501B2 (en) * | 2017-05-22 | 2020-06-09 | International Business Machines Corporation | Context based identification of non-relevant verbal communications |
USRE49462E1 (en) * | 2018-06-15 | 2023-03-14 | Cisco Technology, Inc. | Adaptive noise cancellation for multiple audio endpoints in a shared space |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
US8848901B2 (en) | 2014-09-30 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US9190043B2 (en) | Assisting conversation in noisy environments | |
JP5394373B2 (en) | Apparatus and method for processing audio signals | |
US6690800B2 (en) | Method and apparatus for communication operator privacy | |
US8855328B2 (en) | Earpiece and a method for playing a stereo and a mono signal | |
US8300801B2 (en) | System and method for telephone based noise cancellation | |
ES2398597T3 (en) | A method and arrangement for echo cancellation of voice signals | |
US8848901B2 (en) | Speech canceler-enhancer system for use in call-center applications | |
EP3039883B1 (en) | Assisting conversation while listening to audio | |
JP3267556B2 (en) | Echo canceller and transmitter | |
JP4541159B2 (en) | Nonlinear acoustic echo canceller | |
US8170224B2 (en) | Wideband speakerphone | |
EP2074400B1 (en) | Base station of a telephone system and telephone system comprising such as a base station to reduce background noise | |
JP2002009677A (en) | Acoustic echo canceller | |
JP4967575B2 (en) | Audio conferencing equipment | |
US8068884B2 (en) | Acoustic echo reduction circuit for a “hands-free” device usable with a cell phone | |
EP2095362B1 (en) | Telephone device to cancel background noise at the speaker | |
US11670318B2 (en) | Apparatus and method for acoustic echo cancellation with occluded voice sensor | |
JP2020191604A (en) | Signal processing device and signal processing method | |
JP2023031600A (en) | Processing device, processing method, program, audio input/output system, and audio input/output method | |
US20120219163A1 (en) | Apparatus facilitating effective communication in noise-prone environments | |
JPH0422249A (en) | Loudspeaker telephone set | |
JPH11150599A (en) | Speech circuit | |
JPS6213130A (en) | Conference talking transmission and reception equipment |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: AVAYA TECHNOLOGY LLC, NEW JERSEY Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:DIETHORN, ERIC JOHN;REEL/FRAME:017534/0471 Effective date: 20060418 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: CITIBANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, NEW YORK Free format text: SECURITY AGREEMENT;ASSIGNORS:AVAYA, INC.;AVAYA TECHNOLOGY LLC;OCTEL COMMUNICATIONS LLC;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:020156/0149 Effective date: 20071026 Owner name: CITIBANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT,NEW YORK Free format text: SECURITY AGREEMENT;ASSIGNORS:AVAYA, INC.;AVAYA TECHNOLOGY LLC;OCTEL COMMUNICATIONS LLC;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:020156/0149 Effective date: 20071026 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: CITICORP USA, INC., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, NEW Y Free format text: SECURITY AGREEMENT;ASSIGNORS:AVAYA, INC.;AVAYA TECHNOLOGY LLC;OCTEL COMMUNICATIONS LLC;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:020166/0705 Effective date: 20071026 Owner name: CITICORP USA, INC., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, NEW YORK Free format text: SECURITY AGREEMENT;ASSIGNORS:AVAYA, INC.;AVAYA TECHNOLOGY LLC;OCTEL COMMUNICATIONS LLC;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:020166/0705 Effective date: 20071026 Owner name: CITICORP USA, INC., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT,NEW YO Free format text: SECURITY AGREEMENT;ASSIGNORS:AVAYA, INC.;AVAYA TECHNOLOGY LLC;OCTEL COMMUNICATIONS LLC;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:020166/0705 Effective date: 20071026 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: AVAYA INC, NEW JERSEY Free format text: REASSIGNMENT;ASSIGNOR:AVAYA TECHNOLOGY LLC;REEL/FRAME:021156/0689 Effective date: 20080625 Owner name: AVAYA INC,NEW JERSEY Free format text: REASSIGNMENT;ASSIGNOR:AVAYA TECHNOLOGY LLC;REEL/FRAME:021156/0689 Effective date: 20080625 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST, NA, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT, THE, PENNSYLVANIA Free format text: SECURITY AGREEMENT;ASSIGNOR:AVAYA INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION;REEL/FRAME:025863/0535 Effective date: 20110211 Owner name: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST, NA, AS NOTES COLLAT Free format text: SECURITY AGREEMENT;ASSIGNOR:AVAYA INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION;REEL/FRAME:025863/0535 Effective date: 20110211 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., PENNSYLVANIA Free format text: SECURITY AGREEMENT;ASSIGNOR:AVAYA, INC.;REEL/FRAME:029608/0256 Effective date: 20121221 Owner name: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., P Free format text: SECURITY AGREEMENT;ASSIGNOR:AVAYA, INC.;REEL/FRAME:029608/0256 Effective date: 20121221 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., THE, PENNSYLVANIA Free format text: SECURITY AGREEMENT;ASSIGNOR:AVAYA, INC.;REEL/FRAME:030083/0639 Effective date: 20130307 Owner name: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., THE, Free format text: SECURITY AGREEMENT;ASSIGNOR:AVAYA, INC.;REEL/FRAME:030083/0639 Effective date: 20130307 |
|
STCF | Information on status: patent grant |
Free format text: PATENTED CASE |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: CITIBANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, NEW YORK Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:AVAYA INC.;AVAYA INTEGRATED CABINET SOLUTIONS INC.;OCTEL COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:041576/0001 Effective date: 20170124 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: OCTEL COMMUNICATIONS LLC (FORMERLY KNOWN AS OCTEL COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION), CALIFORNIA Free format text: BANKRUPTCY COURT ORDER RELEASING ALL LIENS INCLUDING THE SECURITY INTEREST RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME 041576/0001;ASSIGNOR:CITIBANK, N.A.;REEL/FRAME:044893/0531 Effective date: 20171128 Owner name: AVAYA INTEGRATED CABINET SOLUTIONS INC., CALIFORNIA Free format text: BANKRUPTCY COURT ORDER RELEASING ALL LIENS INCLUDING THE SECURITY INTEREST RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME 041576/0001;ASSIGNOR:CITIBANK, N.A.;REEL/FRAME:044893/0531 Effective date: 20171128 Owner name: AVAYA INC., CALIFORNIA Free format text: BANKRUPTCY COURT ORDER RELEASING ALL LIENS INCLUDING THE SECURITY INTEREST RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME 025863/0535;ASSIGNOR:THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST, NA;REEL/FRAME:044892/0001 Effective date: 20171128 Owner name: AVAYA INC., CALIFORNIA Free format text: BANKRUPTCY COURT ORDER RELEASING ALL LIENS INCLUDING THE SECURITY INTEREST RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME 029608/0256;ASSIGNOR:THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.;REEL/FRAME:044891/0801 Effective date: 20171128 Owner name: AVAYA INTEGRATED CABINET SOLUTIONS INC., CALIFORNI Free format text: BANKRUPTCY COURT ORDER RELEASING ALL LIENS INCLUDING THE SECURITY INTEREST RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME 041576/0001;ASSIGNOR:CITIBANK, N.A.;REEL/FRAME:044893/0531 Effective date: 20171128 Owner name: VPNET TECHNOLOGIES, INC., CALIFORNIA Free format text: BANKRUPTCY COURT ORDER RELEASING ALL LIENS INCLUDING THE SECURITY INTEREST RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME 041576/0001;ASSIGNOR:CITIBANK, N.A.;REEL/FRAME:044893/0531 Effective date: 20171128 Owner name: OCTEL COMMUNICATIONS LLC (FORMERLY KNOWN AS OCTEL Free format text: BANKRUPTCY COURT ORDER RELEASING ALL LIENS INCLUDING THE SECURITY INTEREST RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME 041576/0001;ASSIGNOR:CITIBANK, N.A.;REEL/FRAME:044893/0531 Effective date: 20171128 Owner name: AVAYA INC., CALIFORNIA Free format text: BANKRUPTCY COURT ORDER RELEASING ALL LIENS INCLUDING THE SECURITY INTEREST RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME 041576/0001;ASSIGNOR:CITIBANK, N.A.;REEL/FRAME:044893/0531 Effective date: 20171128 Owner name: AVAYA INC., CALIFORNIA Free format text: BANKRUPTCY COURT ORDER RELEASING ALL LIENS INCLUDING THE SECURITY INTEREST RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME 030083/0639;ASSIGNOR:THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.;REEL/FRAME:045012/0666 Effective date: 20171128 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: OCTEL COMMUNICATIONS LLC, CALIFORNIA Free format text: RELEASE BY SECURED PARTY;ASSIGNOR:CITICORP USA, INC.;REEL/FRAME:045032/0213 Effective date: 20171215 Owner name: VPNET TECHNOLOGIES, INC., NEW JERSEY Free format text: RELEASE BY SECURED PARTY;ASSIGNOR:CITICORP USA, INC.;REEL/FRAME:045032/0213 Effective date: 20171215 Owner name: SIERRA HOLDINGS CORP., NEW JERSEY Free format text: RELEASE BY SECURED PARTY;ASSIGNOR:CITICORP USA, INC.;REEL/FRAME:045032/0213 Effective date: 20171215 Owner name: AVAYA, INC., CALIFORNIA Free format text: RELEASE BY SECURED PARTY;ASSIGNOR:CITICORP USA, INC.;REEL/FRAME:045032/0213 Effective date: 20171215 Owner name: AVAYA TECHNOLOGY, LLC, NEW JERSEY Free format text: RELEASE BY SECURED PARTY;ASSIGNOR:CITICORP USA, INC.;REEL/FRAME:045032/0213 Effective date: 20171215 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA, AS COLLATERAL AGENT, NEW YORK Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:AVAYA INC.;AVAYA INTEGRATED CABINET SOLUTIONS LLC;OCTEL COMMUNICATIONS LLC;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:045034/0001 Effective date: 20171215 Owner name: GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA, AS COLLATERAL AGENT, NEW Y Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:AVAYA INC.;AVAYA INTEGRATED CABINET SOLUTIONS LLC;OCTEL COMMUNICATIONS LLC;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:045034/0001 Effective date: 20171215 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT, NEW YORK Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:AVAYA INC.;AVAYA INTEGRATED CABINET SOLUTIONS LLC;OCTEL COMMUNICATIONS LLC;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:045124/0026 Effective date: 20171215 |
|
MAFP | Maintenance fee payment |
Free format text: PAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEE, 4TH YEAR, LARGE ENTITY (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: M1551) Year of fee payment: 4 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, MINNESOTA Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:AVAYA INC.;AVAYA MANAGEMENT L.P.;INTELLISIST, INC.;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:053955/0436 Effective date: 20200925 |
|
MAFP | Maintenance fee payment |
Free format text: PAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEE, 8TH YEAR, LARGE ENTITY (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: M1552); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: LARGE ENTITY Year of fee payment: 8 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: VPNET TECHNOLOGIES, CALIFORNIA Free format text: BANKRUPTCY COURT ORDER RELEASING THE SECURITY INTEREST RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME 020156/0149;ASSIGNOR:CITIBANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT;REEL/FRAME:060953/0412 Effective date: 20171128 Owner name: OCTEL COMMUNICATIONS LLC, CALIFORNIA Free format text: BANKRUPTCY COURT ORDER RELEASING THE SECURITY INTEREST RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME 020156/0149;ASSIGNOR:CITIBANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT;REEL/FRAME:060953/0412 Effective date: 20171128 Owner name: AVAYA TECHNOLOGY LLC, CALIFORNIA Free format text: BANKRUPTCY COURT ORDER RELEASING THE SECURITY INTEREST RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME 020156/0149;ASSIGNOR:CITIBANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT;REEL/FRAME:060953/0412 Effective date: 20171128 Owner name: AVAYA, INC., CALIFORNIA Free format text: BANKRUPTCY COURT ORDER RELEASING THE SECURITY INTEREST RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME 020156/0149;ASSIGNOR:CITIBANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT;REEL/FRAME:060953/0412 Effective date: 20171128 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT, DELAWARE Free format text: INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT;ASSIGNORS:AVAYA INC.;INTELLISIST, INC.;AVAYA MANAGEMENT L.P.;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:061087/0386 Effective date: 20220712 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: AVAYA INTEGRATED CABINET SOLUTIONS LLC, NEW JERSEY Free format text: RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS AT REEL 45124/FRAME 0026;ASSIGNOR:CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT;REEL/FRAME:063457/0001 Effective date: 20230403 Owner name: AVAYA MANAGEMENT L.P., NEW JERSEY Free format text: RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS AT REEL 45124/FRAME 0026;ASSIGNOR:CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT;REEL/FRAME:063457/0001 Effective date: 20230403 Owner name: AVAYA INC., NEW JERSEY Free format text: RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS AT REEL 45124/FRAME 0026;ASSIGNOR:CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT;REEL/FRAME:063457/0001 Effective date: 20230403 Owner name: AVAYA HOLDINGS CORP., NEW JERSEY Free format text: RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS AT REEL 45124/FRAME 0026;ASSIGNOR:CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT;REEL/FRAME:063457/0001 Effective date: 20230403 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB (COLLATERAL AGENT), DELAWARE Free format text: INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT;ASSIGNORS:AVAYA MANAGEMENT L.P.;AVAYA INC.;INTELLISIST, INC.;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:063742/0001 Effective date: 20230501 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT, NEW YORK Free format text: INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT;ASSIGNORS:AVAYA INC.;AVAYA MANAGEMENT L.P.;INTELLISIST, INC.;REEL/FRAME:063542/0662 Effective date: 20230501 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: AVAYA MANAGEMENT L.P., NEW JERSEY Free format text: RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS (REEL/FRAME 045034/0001);ASSIGNOR:GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA., AS COLLATERAL AGENT;REEL/FRAME:063779/0622 Effective date: 20230501 Owner name: CAAS TECHNOLOGIES, LLC, NEW JERSEY Free format text: RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS (REEL/FRAME 045034/0001);ASSIGNOR:GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA., AS COLLATERAL AGENT;REEL/FRAME:063779/0622 Effective date: 20230501 Owner name: HYPERQUALITY II, LLC, NEW JERSEY Free format text: RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS (REEL/FRAME 045034/0001);ASSIGNOR:GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA., AS COLLATERAL AGENT;REEL/FRAME:063779/0622 Effective date: 20230501 Owner name: HYPERQUALITY, INC., NEW JERSEY Free format text: RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS (REEL/FRAME 045034/0001);ASSIGNOR:GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA., AS COLLATERAL AGENT;REEL/FRAME:063779/0622 Effective date: 20230501 Owner name: ZANG, INC. (FORMER NAME OF AVAYA CLOUD INC.), NEW JERSEY Free format text: RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS (REEL/FRAME 045034/0001);ASSIGNOR:GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA., AS COLLATERAL AGENT;REEL/FRAME:063779/0622 Effective date: 20230501 Owner name: VPNET TECHNOLOGIES, INC., NEW JERSEY Free format text: RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS (REEL/FRAME 045034/0001);ASSIGNOR:GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA., AS COLLATERAL AGENT;REEL/FRAME:063779/0622 Effective date: 20230501 Owner name: OCTEL COMMUNICATIONS LLC, NEW JERSEY Free format text: RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS (REEL/FRAME 045034/0001);ASSIGNOR:GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA., AS COLLATERAL AGENT;REEL/FRAME:063779/0622 Effective date: 20230501 Owner name: AVAYA INTEGRATED CABINET SOLUTIONS LLC, NEW JERSEY Free format text: RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS (REEL/FRAME 045034/0001);ASSIGNOR:GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA., AS COLLATERAL AGENT;REEL/FRAME:063779/0622 Effective date: 20230501 Owner name: INTELLISIST, INC., NEW JERSEY Free format text: RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS (REEL/FRAME 045034/0001);ASSIGNOR:GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA., AS COLLATERAL AGENT;REEL/FRAME:063779/0622 Effective date: 20230501 Owner name: AVAYA INC., NEW JERSEY Free format text: RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS (REEL/FRAME 045034/0001);ASSIGNOR:GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA., AS COLLATERAL AGENT;REEL/FRAME:063779/0622 Effective date: 20230501 Owner name: AVAYA INTEGRATED CABINET SOLUTIONS LLC, NEW JERSEY Free format text: RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS (REEL/FRAME 53955/0436);ASSIGNOR:WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT;REEL/FRAME:063705/0023 Effective date: 20230501 Owner name: INTELLISIST, INC., NEW JERSEY Free format text: RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS (REEL/FRAME 53955/0436);ASSIGNOR:WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT;REEL/FRAME:063705/0023 Effective date: 20230501 Owner name: AVAYA INC., NEW JERSEY Free format text: RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS (REEL/FRAME 53955/0436);ASSIGNOR:WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT;REEL/FRAME:063705/0023 Effective date: 20230501 Owner name: AVAYA MANAGEMENT L.P., NEW JERSEY Free format text: RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS (REEL/FRAME 53955/0436);ASSIGNOR:WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT;REEL/FRAME:063705/0023 Effective date: 20230501 Owner name: AVAYA INTEGRATED CABINET SOLUTIONS LLC, NEW JERSEY Free format text: RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS (REEL/FRAME 61087/0386);ASSIGNOR:WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT;REEL/FRAME:063690/0359 Effective date: 20230501 Owner name: INTELLISIST, INC., NEW JERSEY Free format text: RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS (REEL/FRAME 61087/0386);ASSIGNOR:WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT;REEL/FRAME:063690/0359 Effective date: 20230501 Owner name: AVAYA INC., NEW JERSEY Free format text: RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS (REEL/FRAME 61087/0386);ASSIGNOR:WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT;REEL/FRAME:063690/0359 Effective date: 20230501 Owner name: AVAYA MANAGEMENT L.P., NEW JERSEY Free format text: RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS (REEL/FRAME 61087/0386);ASSIGNOR:WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT;REEL/FRAME:063690/0359 Effective date: 20230501 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: AVAYA LLC, DELAWARE Free format text: (SECURITY INTEREST) GRANTOR'S NAME CHANGE;ASSIGNOR:AVAYA INC.;REEL/FRAME:065019/0231 Effective date: 20230501 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: AVAYA MANAGEMENT L.P., NEW JERSEY Free format text: INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RELEASE AND REASSIGNMENT;ASSIGNOR:WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB;REEL/FRAME:066894/0227 Effective date: 20240325 Owner name: AVAYA LLC, DELAWARE Free format text: INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RELEASE AND REASSIGNMENT;ASSIGNOR:WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB;REEL/FRAME:066894/0227 Effective date: 20240325 Owner name: AVAYA MANAGEMENT L.P., NEW JERSEY Free format text: INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RELEASE AND REASSIGNMENT;ASSIGNOR:CITIBANK, N.A.;REEL/FRAME:066894/0117 Effective date: 20240325 Owner name: AVAYA LLC, DELAWARE Free format text: INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RELEASE AND REASSIGNMENT;ASSIGNOR:CITIBANK, N.A.;REEL/FRAME:066894/0117 Effective date: 20240325 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: ARLINGTON TECHNOLOGIES, LLC, TEXAS Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:AVAYA LLC;REEL/FRAME:067022/0780 Effective date: 20240329 |